The Bozeman weekly chronicle., 1887-03-02

"H's all my fault. too" he said to Kate.
A morning of bright sunshine and soft,
warm air did not, however, bring any change
to their new and constrained relations 1t
only seemed to offer reason for Fa,knar to
leave the house very early for hts daily
rounds, and gave Lee that occasion for un-
aided exercise with an extempore crutch on
the veranda which allowed Mrs, Hale to pur-
sue her manifold duties without the necessity
Of keeping him company. Kate also, as II to
avoid an accidental meeting with Falkner,
had remained at home with her sister. With
one exception, they did not make their guests
the subject Of their usual playful comments,
nor, after the fashion of their sex, quote their
ideas and opinions. That exception was made
by Mrs. Hale.
1You have had no difference with Mr.
Falkner," she said, carelessly.
"No," said Kate, quickly. "Whyr
II only thought he seemed rather put out
at dinner last night, and you didn't propose
to 60 and meet him to-day"
Ale must he bored with my company at
times, dare say" said Kate, with an indif-
ference quite inconsistent with her rising
color. II shouldn't wonder il he was lii
tie vexe1 with Mr.. Lees chatting him about
his sport yesterday, and probably intends to
go further to-day and bring home larger
game. think Mr.. Lee very amusing al
ways, but I sometimes fancy he, lacks feel
ing"
GFeelingi You don't know him, Kate,"
said Mrs Hale quickly. She stopped herself,
but with half smiling recollection in her
dropped eyelids
"Well, he doesn't look very amiahle now,
stamping up and down the veranda Per-
haps you'd better go and soothe him."
am really so busy just now" said Mira
Hale, with sudden and, inconseQusut energy;
"things have got drcadfully behind In the
last week. You had better go, Kate, and
make him sit down, or he'll be OVERRIDING it.
These men never know any medium-in any
thing
Contrary to Kate's expectation, Falkner
returned earlier than usual, and, taking the
invalids arm, supported him in 8 more am
bilious walk along the terrace before the
conversation, but the two women who OBJ
served them from the window could not help
noticing the almost feminine tenderness Of
Falkner's manner toward his wounded
friend and the thoughtful tenderness of his
ministering care.
az von8er n said. Mr,. Hale. fellovinp them
with softly appreciative eyes, "if women are
capable of as disinterssted friendship as meni
Inever saw ANYTHING Nike the devotion Of
these tvo crestnra. Iook, II Mr. Fa,lper
baanH cot b;s arm round Mr. Iee,s waist
and Lea with his own arm over FaIkner,s
neck. is looking nm in his ewes. Ideclsre
Kate. IL almost seems an indiscretion 70 look
at them.r
Kata bowever to Mrs Hala,s ,rd,on.tiop
threw her nrettv head hack and shifted the
air contemntuopslv az rea,lv don't see .nv.
thing Init some absurd sentimenta,ism Of
their own or some mannisb w,ckedne,s
thev,re concoctinu bv themselves am bv
no means certain. Josepbine. that Lees influ.
ence over that youne man ia the best thing
for him.
aOn the contrary, Tee,s infuence seems
the onIv thing that checks his wavwardness.n
said Mrs, Hale quickly am sure, If any one
makes sacrifices il is Lee: I shouldn't wonder
that even now he is making some concession
to Falkner. and all those carsssipe ways Of
YOUR friend are for a purpose They're not
much different from us dear
aWell. wouldn't stand there and let them
see me looking ot them as IL 1 couldn't hear
them out of nv sight for a moment.p said
Kate. wbiskin9 herself out of the room
aTbey,re conceited enomph. heaven knows
alreadvn
That evening at dinner. however. the two
men exhibited no trace Of the restraint or un-
easiness of the previous day. II they were
less impulsive and exuberant, they were still
frank and interested. and IL the term could
be used in connection with men apparently
trained to neither self-control nor repose
there was a certain gentle DIGNITY in their
manner which for the time had the effect Of
lifting them little above the social level of
their entertainers. For even with all their
predisposition to the strangers, Kate and
Mrs. Hale had always retained a conscious
attitude of gentle condescenson and superi
ority toward them-an attitude not incon-
sistent with a stronger feeling, nor altogether
unprovocative Of it; yet this evening they
found themselves impressed with something
more than an equality in the men who had
amused and interested them, and they were
perhaps little more critical and doubtful of
their own power. Mrs. Hale's little girl, who
had appreciated only the seriousness of the
situation, had made her own application of